title: Sleep disturbances in children recovered from central nervous system neoplasms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the prevalence of long-term sleep disturbances in children successfully treated for central nervous system tumors by use of subjective and objective tools.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children diagnosed and treated for central nervous system tumors and age-matched control subjects were studied. Information on demographics, tumor type, location, and therapies were collected. Parents completed a 28-item sleep questionnaire. Sleep was also evaluated with a sleep-log and actigraphy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients (52% males) and 61 matched control subjects (48% males) were evaluated. The mean ages were 9.9 ± 3.8 and 11.4 ± 3.8 years, respectively (P = NS). The mean time from diagnosis to participation was 4.1 ± 1.4 years. Children in the study group reported longer nighttime sleep compared with control subjects (572 ± 66 minutes vs 519 ± 79 minutes, P < .001; respectively). This was confirmed by actigraphy. These differences disappeared when comparison by age groups was performed. Two patients compared with none in the control subjects resumed daytime napping. No significant sleep disturbances were observed in the study group. No effect was found for tumor type, anatomic site, or adjuvant therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recovered children with a history of brain tumor do not have significant sleep disorders. Their sleep is generally well preserved years after diagnosis and treatment. The possibility that excessive daytime somnolence affects a minority of these children needs further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greenfeld
authors.forename: Shlomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Constantini
authors.forename: Riva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tauman
authors.forename: Yakov
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sivan
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires